Pneumatic cup alarm device

ABSTRACT

An alarm system includes a suction cup or pressure ball which is compressed, for example by closing a part of a door hinge against it or by application to it or an article to be held by it such as a watch. The interior of suction cup or pressure ball communicates with a resilient member which is stretched by the increased pressure of the air therewithin to open a switch in a alarm circuit. Opening of the door or removal of the watch or article will result in closing of this switch so as to sound an alarm.

United States Patent [191 Norrod 11] 3,840,870 [451 Oct. 8, 1974PNEUMATIC CUP ALARM DEVICE [76] Inventor: Arthur D. Norrod, 2156 EvansCourt, Apt. 203, Falls Church, Va. 22043 [22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1971 [21]Appl. No.: 177,347

[52] US. Cl. 340/280, 200/83 Z [51] Int. Cl. G08b 21/00 [58] Field ofSearch 340/240, 283, 280;

- 200/83 B, 83 R, 83 Z [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,233,059 2/1966 Pridham, Jr. et al. 200/83 N 3,622,976 I l/I971 Howard340/240 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS M/masw/m/ 4/1965 Great Britain200/83 Primary ExaminerJohn W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-William M.Wannisky [5 7] ABSTRACT An alarm system includes a suction cup orpressure ball which is compressed, for example by closing a part of adoor hinge against it or by application to it or an article to be heldby it such as a watch. The interior of suction cup or pressure ballcommunicates with a resilient member which is stretched by the increasedpressure of the air therewithin to open a switch in a alarm circuit.Opening of the door or removal of the watch or article will result inclosing of this switch so as to sound an alarm.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 8W 3.840.870

g M/masw/m INVENTOR.

KTHUR awe-{awn PNEUMATIC CUP ALARM DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention The invention relates to an alarm systemutilizing a suction cup or pressure ball arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a concave rubbermember constituting a suction cup or pressure ball has a hole in itsbase which communicates with a space enclosed at least in part by aresilient member such as a diaphragm or rubber tube. The device isprovided with a switch which is closed on the occurrence of pressure inthe space behind the concave member to open an electrical circuit whichincludes an alarm. Thus as the concave member is compressed, as byapplication of a watch or other article on its outer face, thus closingthe hole ,in the face of the concave member, or by the closing of a doorwhich'has a plate which engages the mouth of the concave member, thepressure .in the concave member is increased and the resilient memberactuates the switch to open the circuit. Opening of the door or removalof the watch or other article from the concave member releases thepressure so that the switch closes and sounds the alarm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in cross-section an arrangement embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section through a modified form;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of FIG. 3; and

FIG, 5 is a section through a modified form of a device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there is asuction cup 2 arranged on the front end of a tube 4 closed at its rearend and communicating by opening 6 with a chamber 8 closed by a rubberdiaphragm 10. A switch 12 is held in position in front of the diaphragmby a frame 14. This switch is connected with a battery and an alarm bell16. The whole arrangement is mounted on a ring 18 constituting acircular frame.

If now a watch is pushed in front of the cup 2, and is held thereagainst by the suction of the cup and by an expansible and resilientwatch bracelet 22, the pressure in the chamber 8 will be increased andthe diaphragm will be moved outward so as to open the switch 12. Removalof the watch and band from the holderwill result in closing of theswitch 12, which will then sound the alarm 16.

Of course if it is desired, a manual switch may be connected in some waywith the alarm 16 so that the alarm will not sound except when suchswitch is closed.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is a cup 24 having a rearward pipe-likeextension 26 closed by a member 28. The whole arrangement is mounted ina tube 30 which is slidable in outer tube 32 and which constitutes aframe member/The member 28 is engageable with the switch 34, whichthrough a circuit 36 controls'an alarm 40.

A U-shaped notch 48 in the tube 42 permits passage of a pin 46 with ahead 50. This enables the tube 30 to be slid back and forth in the tube32. Thus in the forward position member 32 is out of contact with themember 28 is pushed backwards by the pressure within the cup and willengage the switch to open the circuit of the alarm 40. On the otherhand, when the device is moved to the rearward position, the switch isalways engaged by the member 28 so that the alarm will not sound even ifthe door is open. This makes it possible to utilize the device only whenthe sounding of the alarm upon the opening of the door is desired.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5, there is a tube 4 havingconnections similar to those shown in FIG. 1. On the open end of thistube is a rubber ball 52 having an opening 54 in its forward end. Thisopening can be engaged by a hermispherical protrusion 56 on a door 58 orthe like, so that closing of the door brings the protrusion 56 into thehole 54 and compresses the ball 52 to increase the pressure in the tube4.

A manual or key-operated switch may be connected in the alarm circuit,if desired.

I claim: I

1. In combination, an alarm device comprising a frame member, a hollowmember of resilient material having a concavity therein and having asubstantially planar opening thereinto into said concavity, the hol-'low member being carried by said frame member and said alarm devicehaving resilient wall means forming a space connected to said concavity,a closure member movably connected on said frame member to close saidplanar opening and to press against said hollow member, whereby uponpressure exerted by the closure member on the hollow member and closureof said planar opening air pressure is built up on one side of said wallmeans, and switch means operatively positioned with respect to said wallmeans to be engaged thereby upon movement of said wall means under theinfluence of pressure exerted within the hollow member.

2. In a combination as claimed in claim 1, having an alarm circuitconnected to said switch means, said alarm circuit being normallyclosed.

3. In a combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the hollow member isa suction cup, said alarm device having a circular frame supporting saidsuction cup adjace'nt the periphery of the circular frame for engagementof the circular frame by a watch band carrying a watch engageable overthe face of the suction cup.

4. In a combination as claimed in claim 3, said closure memberconstituting a part of a hinge, said hinge including one part supportsaid hollow member and another part carrying said closure member.

5. In a combination as claimed in claim 4, said wall means including anelongated resilient tube connected to said hollow member.

6. In a combination asclaimed in claim 5, a first tubular member havinga second tubular slidable in said first tubular member, said resilienttube being located within said second tubular member.

1. In combination, an alarm device comprising a frame member, a hollowmember of resilient material having a concavity therein and having asubstantially planar opening thereinto into said concavity, the hollowmember being carried by said frame member and said alarm device havingresilient wall means forming a space connected to said concavity, aclosure member movably connected on said frame member to close saidplanar opening and to press against said hollow member, whereby uponpressure exerted by the closure member on the hollow member and closureof said planar opening air pressure is built up on one side of said wallmeans, and switch means operatively positioned with respect to said wallmeans to be engaged thereby upon movement of said wall means under theinfluence of pressure exerted within the hollow member.
 2. In acombination as claimed in claim 1, having an alarm circuit connected tosaid switch means, said alarm circuit being normally closed.
 3. In acombination as claimed in claim 1, in which the hollow member is asuction cup, said alarm device having a circular frame supporting saidsuction cup adjacent the periphery of the circular frame for engagementof the circular frame by a watch band carrying a watch engageable overthe face of the suction cup.
 4. In a combination as claimed in claim 3,said closure member constituting a part of a hinge, said hinge includingone part support said hollow member and another part carrying saidclosure member.
 5. In a combination as claimed in claim 4, said wallmeans including an elongated resilient tube connected to said hollowmember.
 6. In a combination as claimed in claim 5, a first tubularmember having a second tubular slidable in said first tubular member,said resilient tube being located within said second tubular member.